Want to know the latest trends, matchups and injury news in football? We've got you. Want to know where the public has money this week? We've got you. Want to know which teams to play, whom to roster in DFS or whom to pick in your Eliminator pool? We've got you there, too. Here's everything you need to know as you prepare for your fantasy football matchups and potential bets on the games this weekend.
NFL: Injury update | Matchups to exploit | Eliminator Challenge | DFS plays | Analytics Edges | Action Report | 'Dolan Out Winners' | Confidence pool picks | Pigskin Pick'em
Sports Betting home | Fantasy Football home
NFL
Stephania Bell's injury update
Amon-Ra St. Brown appeared on the injury report this week with an abdominal strain, something he began to feel after the Packers game according to coach Dan Campbell, who spoke with reporters Friday. Campbell noted the injury happened during the game but he was able to finish. St. Brown was held out of practice throughout the week and Campbell said the team would know more about his status on Saturday. When the team's official injury report came out late Friday however it listed St. Brown as Doubtful, a strong indicator that he will not play on Sunday against the Panthers. Despite his non-practice status, there were some early positive signs for St. Brown. When he spoke with reporters Thursday he appeared upbeat, saying he felt "pretty good" and indicating his goal was to play Sunday. He had been working pretty intensely on the side during practice and hit what he thought to be one of his "top speeds" while running this week. When prompted about his actual speed, he said it was about 21 mph. Given that core strength (of which the abdominal muscles are a significant part) is critical for running, including achieving top speed, St Brown being able to hit that velocity was a favorable benchmark. While the Lions are holding him out this week, perhaps to help ensure that he does not put himself at risk for a longer-term injury, the hope is that this will not be a protracted absence.
Cooper Kupp has yet to play this season, but it appears that this is about to change, perhaps as soon as this week. Kupp began the season on IR after suffering a hamstring injury on August 1 and a subsequent "setback" shortly before the season began. Kupp's back-to-back full practice sessions Thursday and Friday bode well for a return this week, barring a surprise, but expect him to be monitored closely as he does resume competition.
Kyren Williams suffered a bruised hip during a career-best performance in Week 4 when he touched the ball 28 times, a substantial increase from prior games. When he didn't practice Wednesday, coach Sean McVay said it was a precautionary move to allow him to rest, adding that he expects him to play on Sunday. Williams returned to practice on a limited basis Thursday, a positive sign. Expect him to take the field in Week 5 if there are no setbacks.
Get all the latest injury news here.
Matt Bowen's matchups to exploit
Lamar Jackson in the red zone vs. the Pittsburgh Steelers: Jackson can create conflict for the Pittsburgh defense on designed carries in the low red zone. Over his past two games, Jackson has logged four touchdowns on rushing attempts inside the 20-yard line. And Baltimore's QB run package is very multiple, with pre-snap movement and misdirection to get numbers on the play side.
Jalen Carter and Fletcher Cox vs. the Los Angeles Rams offensive line: The Eagles' two defensive tackles have combined for 21 pressures through the first four weeks of the season, and I see a matchup advantage here against the interior of the Rams' offensive front. Cox (if healthy) and Carter have the disruptive traits to take away Matthew Stafford's ability to climb the pocket.
For more breakdowns, check out Matt Bowen's Film Room.
Mike Clay's Eliminator Challenge advice
Miami Dolphins (vs. New York Giants): The Dolphins are set to host the 1-3 Giants, so their win probability (89%) is unsurprisingly second highest in the league this week. It's also the highest remaining this season for Miami, though there are a few close ones, including next week (88% vs. Carolina) and Week 11 (88% vs. Las Vegas). If not Miami, the Detroit Lions (90% win probability vs. Carolina) are a viable option, though we will have several better opportunities to use them, including Week 11 (vs. Chicago) and Week 15 (vs. Denver).
Follow Clay's Eliminator Challenge advice all season long and read more here for other tips for Week 5.
Al Zeidenfeld's DFS plays
Running back is going to be an extremely important position in both game lineups and tournaments this weekend because of how many advantage plays exist on the main slate. It's still a few days before lineups lock, and things could certainly change, but De'Von Achane ($6,100), Joe Mixon ($6,400) and Isiah Pacheco ($5,700) are extremely cheap, get tremendous volume and all project very well with positive matchups. The depth at the position with Bijan Robinson ($7,700) and David Montgomery ($6,600), who are both favored and at home, coupled with the possibility for extreme values like Jaleel McLaughlin ($5,000) and Chuba Hubbard ($4,500) because of injury concerns to the players ahead of them on their respective depth charts, provides solid value at all different price points.
More DFS plays here.
Seth Walder's biggest edges from ESPN Analytics
Minnesota Vikings DE Danielle Hunter under 0.25 sacks (-120 at DraftKings): Hunter is off to a nice start to the season with five sacks, but this is a bet on Patrick Mahomes -- the greatest sack evader in the league. His sack rate when pressured this season is 5%. If his sack rate on all dropbacks were 5%, that would still be better than average! I make the fair price here -198.
Giants QB Daniel Jones over 0.5 interceptions (-115): Even though Jones' very high 3.5% interception rate this season will certainly come down (it was a league-low 0.9% last year), the reality is that the Giants probably will fall behind the potent Miami Dolphins offense and will need Jones to put the ball in the air. That's when a pick is likely to come. I make the fair price -133.
David Purdum's Action Report
The Dolphins are the biggest favorites on the board this week, laying 12.5 to the Giants. Bettors were not shying away from the big spread early in the week. As of Thursday at FanDuel, 90% of the bets and 94% of the money wagered was on the Dolphins to cover the spread.
The line on the Dallas Cowboys-San Francisco 49ers Sunday night game held steady throughout the week, with San Francisco listed as a 3.5-point favorite. Bettors were siding with the 49ers early in the week. FanDuel reported Thursday that 80% of the bets on the spread were on San Francisco.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders each attracted bets from professional bettors early this week at the SuperBook, according to executive director John Murray. The Steelers are 4-point home underdogs to the Ravens. The Titans opened as 1-point road underdogs to the Colts, but the line quickly moved toward Tennessee, which was listed as a 2.5-point favorite as of Thursday. The Raiders host the Packers on "Monday Night Football." The line opened at pick 'em at the SuperBook but was back up to as high as Las Vegas -2 early in the week.
Erin Dolan's 'Dolan Out Winners'
Dak Prescott OVER .5 INTs (-129) at 49ers: Dak was a turnover machine last season but has only had one interception through the first four games of this season. Keep in mind he faced the Giants, Jets, Cardinals and Patriots defenses. Now he faces a top-5 defense. The 49ers have five defensive interceptions so far this season (T-4th), and Dak threw two picks the last time these two faced each other in the NFC Divisional playoffs. The 49ers are better at stopping the run than the pass, and I expect Dak to throw at least one pick in the Sunday Night Football matchup.
Matthew Stafford OVER 37.5 passing attempts (-125): Stafford is dealing with a hip contusion but is expected to play Sunday against the Eagles. This game features the second-highest total on the board (50), which leads me to believe it can be high scoring and fast paced. Cooper Kupp could be back in the lineup as well. The Rams are ranked 14th in designed pass rate (64%), but, they have the second-highest designed pass rate when the game is within 10 points (69%). Stafford is averaging 42 passing attempts per game and should be able to hit over this mark, given the Rams should be playing from behind against a good Eagles team.
Anita Marks' NFL Confidence picks
Kansas City Chiefs -3.5 at Minnesota Vikings: KC is coming off one of its worst game this season, almost losing to the Jets -- and needing a bad call to avoid it. This is a great bounce-back spot for Patrick Mahomes and company. The Vikings defense does not pressure quarterbacks (fourth worst in the NFL), and the Chiefs run game will have success in Minnesota as well.
Tennessee Titans -2.5 at Indianapolis Colts: The Titans own this series, with five straight wins straight up and against the spread. The Colts have lost seven straight at home. Even if Indy gets Jonathan Taylor back, Tennesse's rush defense is only allowing 2.9 yards per carry, best in the NFL. The Colts' secondary might have to roll with two rookies at corner, so Ryan Tannehill and DeAndre Hopkins could be in for big days.
Tyler Fulghum's Pigskin Pick'em plays
Wow. The public got slaughtered in Week 4. The Dolphins got smoked by the Buffalo Bills. The Cincinnati Bengals no-showed against the Tennessee Titans. The Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs failed to cover large numbers and almost lost their games outright. While I'm not picking with the spread here, it still illustrates how volatile this league is week to week. Good luck in Week 5 of Pigskin Pick'em.
Commanders (Thursday)
Bills
Ravens
Lions
Colts
Dolphins
Patriots
Falcons
Cardinals
Eagles
Broncos
Chiefs
49ers